Daijiworld Media Network – Sawantwadi

Sawantwadi, Sep 16: The wild elephant that strayed from its herd and was first spotted near Mopa on Sunday has now been located in Netarde village of Sawantwadi, officials confirmed on Monday.

Range Forest Officer Suhas Patil said the animal’s position in Kholbagwadi, Netarde, was traced using a drone in the morning. “Due to heavy rainfall, our staff could not immediately reach the site,” he added.

The elephant was earlier seen Saturday night in the farm of Datta Pawaskar at Khadshi, Mopa, before moving through the no-fly zone of Mopa International Airport.

Local resident Mangesh Kubal noted that their village’s paddy fields and abundant water attract elephants. “A decade ago, three elephants stayed here for days and destroyed crops. This time, the lone elephant has not caused any damage,” he said.

Forest officials are monitoring the animal’s movement and have appealed to villagers to stay alert while efforts continue to guide it safely back to the wild.